6064. RB to William Thomson

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 323.

19. Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace, W.

May 26. ’68.

My dear Lord Archbishop, [1]

I have only to say that in this case I am at liberty to do what, insignificant as it may seem, I have hitherto felt impossible.

If you will kindly send me the notices you mention, I think I can correct any error and supply any important omission: the blunders in such books as “Men of The Time” [2] &c have been in some degree chargeable to myself, who refuse, for particular reasons, any sort of collaboration with a regular memoir-writer: no such reasons exist here, and I will do all I can to comply with your wish. It is hardly necessary to premise that I shall leave absolutely uncommented-upon whatever criticism I may find in whatever sense: also, you will surely give me credit for more robustness than to wince at any brushing you have pleased to administer in my case! [3]

Pray believe me, my dear Lord Archbishop,

Most faithfully yours

Robert Browning

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. William Thomson (né Thompson, 1819–92), Archbishop of York (1862–90).

2. Referring to the biographical sketch of EBB in Men of the Time (1856); see letter 3749, note 12.

3. We have been unable to trace a published criticism of RB or EBB’s work by Thomson.

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